At least 20 dead in Myanmar after strong earthquake

The death toll has risen to 20 in Mandalay, Myanmar, following a powerful 7.7 earthquake that hit central parts of the country on Friday, according to Dr. Kyaw Zin from the Mandalay General Hospital, Report informs via The New York Times.

At least 10 people were killed when a mosque collapsed in Mandalay after a strong earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday, according to local media outlet Khit Thit, Report informs via Xinhua.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.7, jolted 16 km NNW of Sagaing, Myanmar earlier in the day, the US Geological Survey said.

The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 22.01 degrees north latitude and 95.92 degrees east longitude.

The quake caused "considerable damage" to some buildings, including the walled fort of Mandalay Palace.

Multiple structures in Mandalay Region suffered collapses, while several roads linking Mandalay and Yangon were damaged or blocked, disrupting transportation.

Additionally, Five children and a novice were killed in the collapse of a monastery building.

A powerful 7.7 earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, close to the country’s second city of Mandalay, home to around 1 million people and historic temple complexes, with tremors shaking buildings as far away as the Thai capital of Bangkok, Report informs via CNN.

Video posted online from both countries showed panicked residents running from swaying residential towers as dust fills the air, and traffic comes to a sudden stop on busy city streets.

Myanmar is already reeling from more than four years of civil war sparked by a bloody and economically destructive military coup, with has seen military forces battle rebel groups across the country. It remains one of Asia’s poorest nations and is ill-equipped to deal with major natural disasters.

Video obtained by CNN from Myanmar appeared to show a road bridge spanning the Irrawaddy River that runs through Mandalay, collapsing into the river in a cloud of dust and water.

The epicenter was in nearby Sagaing region, which has been ravaged by the civil war, with the junta, pro-military militia and rebel groups battling for control and all running checkpoints, making travel by road or river extremely difficult.